Liquefied gas dispensing system



Oct. 8, -1940. J w n' 2,217,581

LIQUEFIED GAS DISPENSING SYSTEM .File d Sept. 7, 193a Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,217,581 LIQUEFIEDGAS DISPENSING SYSTEM Loyd J.White, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Southern Steel Company, acorporation of Texas Application September 7, 1938, Serial No. 228,824

Claims.

This invention relates to liquefied gas systems of the type shown in myco-pending application Serial No. 228,823, filed on even date herewith,and aims, among other objects, to provide a 5 greatly improved systemwherein a portion of the service pipe extends through a riser orstandpipe to a point below the bottom of the tank so that it will absorbrevaporizing heat, not only from the vapor and liquefied gas in thestandpipe, but also from the surrounding earth far below the frost line.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in thespecification, when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,

wherein;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a systemembodying the invention; and,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,taken at right angles to the section in Fig. 1. a

Referring particularly to the drawing, the system there shown is of thesame type as that disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending application. Itembodies a storage tank I0, an enlarged lower standpipe section IIhaving a projecting lower end providing a heat exchanger l2 and astandpipe section l3 connected by a welded-on plate I to the lowersection from which gas is delivered through the well known combinationfitting l5 and pressure reducing regulator I 6 having a service outletnipple H. The appurtenances are arranged within an insulated casing l8secured to the plate l4 and having an insulated cover [9. The enlargedstandpipe section II is shown as having spaced openings 20 and 2| whichcommunicate with the contents of the tank at the top and bottom so thatthe liquid in the tank will establish its level in the pipe. As shown inthe aforesaid copending application, the usual sliptube 22 and dip-tube23 projecting through the standpipe into the standpipe within the tank.

Instead of leading the gas service pipe out of p the protecting casingabove the level of the tank 45 as in the aforesaid application, it isshown in this ,instance as having a run 24 extending through the coverplate l4 and the side wall of the lower extension' l2, beingconveniently welded at both points to prevent any possibility ofleakage. This run is shown as having union coupling fittings 25 and 26to facilitate connection to the service outlet and the usual servicepipe 21. It will be understood that the run 24 is welded-in at thefactory. The service pipe 21 extends substantially horizontally belowthe level of the tank and may rise above its level but below the frostline where it extends into a building. The lowest portion of the servicepipe is always preferably at or about the point of its connection to theheat exchanger extension l2 so that any condensate 5 formedthereinwillalways flow back toward this point and be revaporized.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved systemi very simple in its construction and easy to manufacture. The tank 10and the standpipe connections, together with the casing, may beassembled at the factory and the dispensing appurtenances connected atthe point of installation or the whole system can be preassembled andshipped without danger of break- 15 age. The service pipe will alwaysabsorb heat from the vapor and liquid in the standpipe section H whenthe gas is being used. Therefore, no condensate can form in the servicepipe before it passes out of the heat exchanger'extension 20 of thestandpipe. Moreover, this typeof system avoids any necessity ofproviding any type of heat exchanger for the service pipe to insurerevaporization of condensate. It is contemplated that such systems willbe most useful in cold cli- 25 mates and the cost of installation willbe greatly reduced.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not 30indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the character described, apressure storage tank for the liquefied gas adapted to be buried in theground; a standpipe connected to and communicating with the tank fordelivering vaporized gas; 40 a heat exchanger extension on the standpipeprojecting through the bottom 'of the tank and arranged to absorbsupplemental heat from the earth below the tank; and a service pipeextending through a portion of the standpipe and emerging therefrombelow the bottom of the tank to absorb heat from the contents of thetank and from the surrounding earth to revaporize any condensateformedin the service pipe.

2. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the character described, apressure storage tank for the liquefied gas adapted to be buried intheground; a standpipe connected to and extending above and below the tankand communicating therewith; dispensing appurtenances including apressure reducing regulator connected to the upper portion of thestandpipe; and a service pipe connected to the pressure reducingregulator and extending downwardly therethrough and outwardly therefrombelow the tank.

3. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the character described, apressure storage tank for the liquefied gas adapted to be: buried in theground; a standpipe connected to and extendin above and below the tank;said standpipe having openings therein communicating with the interioroi the tank near the top and bottom thereof to permit liquid in the tankto establish its level in the standpipe; dispensing appurtenancesincluding a pressure reducing regulator connected to the upper portionof the standpipe; and a service pipe connected to the pressure reducingregulator and extending downwardly therethrough and outwardly therefrombelow the tank.

4. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the character described, apressure storage tank for the liquefied gas adapted to be buried in theground; a standpipe connected to and extending above and below the tankand communicating with the tank near the top and bottom. thereof;

dispensing appurtenances including a pressure reducing regulatorconnected to the upper portion of the standpipe; a service pipeconnected to the pressure reducing regulator and extending downwardlytherethrough and outwardly therefrom below the tank; and an insulatedprotecting casing surrounding the appurtenances and supported by thestandpipe.

5. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the character described, apressure storage tank for the liquefied gas adapted to be buried in theground; a standpipe having an'enlarged lower section projecting throughthe top and bottom of the tank and communicating therewith: a reducedupper standplpe section on the upper end of the lower'section;dispensing appurtenances, including a pressure reducing regulatorconnected to the upper standplpe section; and a service pipe having aportion extending through the lower standpipe section and emerging atits lowest point from said section'below the tank to absorb revaporizingheat for any condensate therein from the standpipe and the surroundingearth.

LOYD J. WI-HIE.

